Auditor explains why taxes are up

Published: February 11, 2000 12:00AM

Wayne County Auditor Jarra Underwood, at the request of the mayor and council, answered questions about the recent increase of property taxes during the West Salem Village Council meeting Wednesday evening.

Members of council said they received questions from area residents regarding the approximately-10-percent increase in property taxes.

According to Ohio law, Underwood explained, the county auditor is required to conduct a complete reappraisal of all real estate every six years, which is called a Sexenniel Revaluation.

At the midway pint in this process, the auditor is required to conduct a Triennial Update.

During this update, a market value is determined by analyzing recent sales or property that are similar and a comparable location, which will reflect what a piece of property is worth.

This fair market value is a measure by which the auditor can base the reasonable and equitable taxation to be applied to each parcel of real property within the county.

Underwood went on to detail the other factors considered in the evaluation and what changes do not increase the market value of property. She also explained variables such as levies passed, adjustments to the Current Agricultural Use Value tables and the Homestead Exemptions Program as being factors to consider with the six-year and three-year updates.

If a property owner disagrees with the auditors value, Underwood said, they can call her office for an appointment for an informal review or file a formal complaint with the Board of Revision. March 1 of each year is the deadline for filing.

She advised residents that property record cards containing all appraisal data on a residents property are available for inspection at her office.

Residents who have questions may call her office at (330) 287-5433 or 287-5438 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

In other business, Police Chief Terry Johns informed council another part-time police officer has resigned because of a conflict with his full-time job.

Johns asked council to appoint Mayor Elmer Toth as a non-paid police officer for the village as a back-up officer when there is an emergency requiring another officer on the scene.

Johns cited recent incidents where the arrival time for back-up was as long as 20-40 minutes. Toth is certified and meets all the requirements for the position, but would only respond on an "as need" basis in emergencies.

He would be unable to write citations because of a conflict of interest regarding the village Mayor's Court.

Village solicitor Mark Altier voiced his concern regarding conflict of interest and said he is concerned that he had not been advised to research the matter thoroughly.

He stressed, however, that he was not questioning Toth's ability to do the job.

After a lengthy discussion, council agreed to appoint Toth as a special police officer, with specific limitations, for a period of six months, pending results of a conflict-of-interest study by Altier.

The motion passed with four yes votes. Council member Janet Kenyon voted no and council member Bud Rogers was absent.

Johns apologized for bringing up the matter on such short notice, but said he feels there is an emergency situation in the village that needs to be dealt with.